Kim Moon-soo, the nominee for the new labor minister, speaks during a confirmation hearing at the National Assembly in Seoul, Monday. Newsis Kim opposes separate minimum wage system for foreign workers By Jung Min-ho Opposition lawmakers attacked Kim Moon-soo, the labor minister nominee, for being “anti-labor” over his past remarks during a confirmation hearing at the National Assembly. At Monday’s hearing, lawmakers of the Democratic Party of Korea focused their criticism largely on his controversial comments rather than his policy ideas, saying he is unqualified to assume the post that requires commitment to improving the rights of workers.
The comments include one in which Kim said he was “touched” by a company that does not have any labor union after his visit there last year. When pressured to apologize over his past remarks, Kim did, saying he was “sorry for those who were hurt” by them. Kim’s hard-right political views were also a target of liberal lawmakers.
Asked whether he still held a sympathetic view of the ousted former President Park Geun-hye, Kim said he did, and that the court ruling that convicted her on corruption charges would be reevaluated eventually. In his written response sent to lawmakers previously, Kim expressed his opposition to the introduction of a separate minimum wage system for foreign workers, a policy idea backed by many ruling party politicians. Kim said it would require a careful approach, given that such a policy could vio.